Apparatus for heating inflating-gas in balloons.



R. H. UPSON.

` APPARATUS FOB. HEATING INFLATING GAS IN BALLOONS.

Patented Apr. 7, 1914,

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APPLICATION FILED JAN.29,1913.

R. H. UPSON. APPARATUS FOB. HEATING NFLAT`ING GAS IN BALLOONS. APPLIGATIQN FILED JAN.29,1913.

1,092,61 1 Patented Apr. 7, 1914;

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f---*oi\nriin srnras PA r RALPH HAZLET'I UPSON, OF AKRON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE GOODYEAR TIRE AND RUBBER/COMPANY, OF AKRON, OHIO, A. CORPORATION OF OHIO.

APPARATUS FOR HEATING INFLATING-GAS IN BALLOONS.

To all whom 'it may concern: v

. Be it known that I, RALPH HAzLETr UP- soN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Akron, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvementsin Apparatus for Heating Inflating-Gas in Balloons, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for artificially heating the gas used in balloons, especially of the dirigible type. Briefly, in large balloons, especially. of the dirigible type,` the volume of gas is,of course, increased by heat and reduced by cold, and hence, when the balloon is in use and the sun shines upon the as bag of the balloon the latter is heated, t ereby expanding the gas and increasin its lifting capacity, and when the sun is o scure the lifting qualities of the gas of the balloon are decreased. It therefore becomes extremely desirable to maintain the temperature of the gas as nearly constant as possible to thereby maintain the vertical equilibrium of the balloon. It willbe obvious that as the gas generally employed for inflatin balloons is hydrogen, and is highly in ammable, the means for artificially heating the same must be of such a nature as will render the employment thereof absolutely safe.

More specifically, this invention contemplates providing .the lower wall of the gas bag or balloon with an opening, preferably surrounded with stiffening elements through which is passed shuttle-fashion an artificial heat-generating instrumentality, so that when shifted into the interior of the balloon and in active operation the gas within they view, the invention consists in the novel con-4 struction, combination and arrangement of parts constituting the invention to be hereinafter specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form understood that changes, variations and Specication of Letters Patent.

modification can be resorted to which come t within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings lin which similar reference numerals indicate like parts in the diderent figures, Figure'l, is a view in side lelevation of the lower wall of a `dirigible balloon showing the mechanism by which the heating of the iniating gas is accomplished,a part of the mechanism being shown in section; Fig. 2, is a View in end elevation 4of the device shown in Fig. 1 with the wall of the balloon in section; and Fig. 3, is a diagrammatic view of a valve mechanism employed.

Referring to the drawings `in detail, the

' constitutes a beading surrounding the opening 2 in the balloon wall. Outside of the wall of the balloon is a rigid-member 5 preferably of wood or some other light material, covered by a coating of thin metal 6 corresponding in contour to the configuration of the member 3 and secured thereto through the medium of bolts or other hold-v fast devices 7 which clamp the wall 1 between them for forming a fluid-tight-joint around the opening 2.

The member 5 also forms the upper-portion of a frame secured to the balloonframe and also secured at its lower endto the carriage or basket of the balloon. This carriage consists of a plurality of upright bars 8 the lower ends 'of which are provided with enlargements 10 secured by stays or stay-wires to the frame of the balloon. The uprights 8 are placed at the corners of an imaginary square so as to form an upright rectangular frame. Secured to the lateral pairs of uprights 8, .being the ones shown in Fig. 1, and also those shown at the sides in Fig. 2, is a vertical shiftable carriage or elevator consisting of U'shaped side members consisting of uprights 9 carrying guiding members l0 which engage the uprights 8 of the frame and serve to hold the carriage from lateral movement during its vere lRateiuted Apr. 7, 1914. Application filed January 29, 1913. A Serial No. 745,026.

i IThese members are preferably formed of movable carriage is a seamless drawn tubing of light material. Extending across the u per portion of the oor 14 to4 which 1s f 'secured the upper end of a ram 15 reciprocating in a cylinder 16 by which the movement of the ram. and floor 14 are controlled. VThe floor 14 is provided with an I upturned marginal vfiange 17 and is provided at its sides with fixed closure members 18 on the upper ends of which is an upper wall 19 projecting. beyond the sides 18 and is further provided near its ends with downwardly-turned flanges 20. Secured to'the marginal flange 17 are cross pieces 21 to which are pivotally united, doors 22, extendingupwardly and filling the spaces intervening between the flanges 20 and 21 at the ends of the box-like structure mounted on thelloor 14.' The doors22 are normally forced outwardly through the medium of springs 23, the function of whichwllmore fully appear later.

Mounted on the floor 14 is a radiator 24 provided with a pipe 25 through which a Huid for heating it is introduced. Positioned immediately in front of the radiator 24, and supported in a bearing 26 therein,

is a horizontal shaft 27 onwhich is mounted a' fan 28 and a bevelear 29. Secured to the left end of the horizontal shaft 27 is an L-shaped housing 30 the lower leg of which is provided with an aperture in which isthe upper end of which is secured a bevelear A33 meshing with the bevel-gear 29.

he lower end of the shaft 22 is rotatably mounted in a step 34 mounted on a crossbar 35 (see Fig. 2) extending between the two cross-arms 11. Splined on the shaft 32 is-a belt-receiving pulley` 36 which is held against movement during the vertical reciprocation ofthe carriage through the medium of an arm 37 secured to one of. the uprights 18.' Extending across the upper portion of the box-like structure or casing formed bythe sides 18 and the doors 22 Y when closed is a diaphragm of foraminous or reticulated material 38. vVertically shift- -ably mounted in a bearing 41- in the 'floor 14 of the carriage, is a rod 42 on the upper end of which is a head 43 fromwhich extend ropes,^cables or yother flexible members 44 to anchorages on the inner faces of the doors 22 and the exible members 44 in their passage from the head 43 to the doors 22 pass over a double pulley 45 secured Ito the under face of the upper wall 19of the boxlike structure of the carriage. Depending below the ioor 14 is a bracket 46 in which is a bearing 47 for the lower end of the upright rod 42. To the lower end of the rod 42 is secured an eye or other suitable anchorage 48 to which is connected a wire or rope 49 passing `around a lpulley 50 to a lever within the grasp of the operator of the balloon. Depending from the oor 14 of the carriage and in open communication with the interior of the box-like structure above the floor is a pipe 51 for a purpose to be later described.

In Fig. 3 is shown a diagrammatic view of the valve mechanism employed for controlling the device and it consists of a valvecasing 52 provided with an inlet 53, having a check-valve 54, and the casing is further provided with an exhaust 55. Also communicating with the interior of the valvecasing is an iniating pipe 56 communicating with gas under pressure in the balloon. Within the valve-casing is a valve 57 the object and function of which will appear later.

Briefly, the operation is as follows Under normal conditions the box-like structure above the licor 14 is lowered sol that the projecting portions of the upper wall 19 will rest on the upper face of the metallic reinforce surrounding the ring 5 and thereby seal the opening 2 in the lower wall of the balloon in doing which the doors 22 will b'e in their closed position, as shown in full lines in Fig. 1. When it is desired to raise the temperature or heat the gas within the ,interior of the balloon the' valve 57 is turned into the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3, thereby permittingthe gas from the balloon to pass through the inlet conduit 56 to the valve casing 52 and from thence upwardly through the pipe 39 into the interior of the box-like structure above 'the diaphragm 38 from whence it passes slowly ownwardly driving out the atmospheric air contained in the box, through the exhaustf51 and into the casing l52 from whence it escapesthrough the exhaust 55. After this has been accomplished a fluid is admitted to the interior of the cylinder 16 of the ram .15 which causes the upper box-like portion of the margin to kmove shuttle-wise into the cavity of the .balloon in doing which the doors 22 will be in their closed position, thereby preventing the gas within the balloon from escaping through the opening 2. The upward movement of the carriage is kept up until'the Hoor 14 engages the under face of the metallic covering of the stiffening member 5 suiiicientl to form an approximately fluid-tight j o1nt therewith. The doors 22 are then opened by permitting the rod 42 to rise, allowing the doors to swing outwardly, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 until they rest upon the lower wall of the balloon, in doing which the outward move-J ment of the doors is assisted by the `springs 23. The fan28 is then operated, driving the gas within the balloon through the box-like structure which is then' open at both ends vso that enough gas in the balloon is through this passage way and` eated through the medium of a radiator 24. W'henA the temperature of the fluid wit-hin the balloon has been raised sufficiently the doors are closed through the medium of the flexible member 49 and the box-like structure on the carriage is lowered to its original place and' the gas upwardly and outwardly through the opening Ll0 down through the pipe 39 into the valve-casing 52 from whence it escapes through the outlet 55.

I claim:-

l. A balloon provided with an opening in a wall thereof, reinforcing members surrounding said opening, a heat-generating instrumentality capable of being projected through said opening into the interior of said balloon for heating the fluid therein, and means for maintaining a'fluid-tight closure for said opening irrespective of the position of said heat-generating instrumentality. A

2. A balloon provided with an opening in a wall thereof, a reciprocating carriage positioned adjacent to said opening, a heatgenerating instrumentality mounted on said carriage and adapted to move shuttle-fashion through said opening and arranged when shifted into a position within the interior of said balloon toheat the fluid.v contained therein.

3. A balloon provided in a wall thereof with an opening, a stitl'ening medium surrounding said opening, a reciprocally-moving carriage, guiding means for said carriage, a heating instrumentality mounted on said carriage adapted to move shuttlefashion through said carriage for heating the contents of said balloon.

4. A balloon, a wall whereof is provided with an opening, a reciprocally-mdving carriage positioned adjacent to said opening, a heating medium mounted on said carriage and adapted to move shuttle-fashion through said opening, and a current-creating medium on said carriage for bringing the Huid contained in said balloon into contact with said heating medium.

5. Av balloon provided with an opening in a .wall thereof, a reciprocally-movable carriage positioned adjacent to said opening, guiding mea-ns for said carriage, a heat-genassed .heating said fluid, and means on said carriage to close the opening in said balloon when said heat-generating instrumentality is removed from the interior of said balloon.

6. -A. balloon provided withan opening in a wall thereof, a reciprocally-movable carriage 'positioned adjacent to said opening, a casing on said carriage and adapted to move shuttle-fashion through said opening, a heatgenerating instrumentality in said easing adapt-ed to heat the contents of said balloon when moved into the interior of said balloon through said o ening, said casin provided with a pairof oors, and means or moving said doors into their open or closed position.

7. A balloon provided in a wall thereof with an opening, guiding means positioned Iadjacent to said opening, a carriage positioned outside of said opening and reciprocally-shiftable with respect to said wall, a casing mounted on said carriage, and adapted to move shuttle-fashion into and out of said balloon, a pair of doors on said carriage, means to move said doors to their open position when said casing is within said balloon, and means to move said doors to-their closed position during the movement of said'casing and also when'said casing is positioned outsidev of said balloon, and a heat-generating instrumentality positioned in said casing for heating the`conytents of said balloon.

ed to move shuttle-fashion through saidl opening, said casing provided with an upper-wall adapted to close said opening when said casing is in its lower'position or outs1de of said balloon, a pair of doors in sa1d casing adapted'to remain in thelr closed position during the movement of said casing and also when said casing is positioned out-- -side of said balloon, mea-ns to move said `doors to their open position when within vsaid balloon, and a heat-generating instrumentality positioned within said casing adapted to heat t-he fluid passing through said casing while within said balloon.

Q 9. A balloon provided with an opening in a wall thereof, a rigid member surrounding 'said opening, a guiding frame secured to said rigid member and positioned outside of said balloon, a longitudinally-shiftable carriage slidable on saidv frame, a casing carrried by said carriage, a heating-instrumentality carried by said casing, a current-creatingI medium adapted to drive a fluid into Contact with said heat-generating instrumentality, a oraminous diaphragm extending across said casing, inlet and exhaust pipes communicating with the interior of Y said casing on opposite sides of said diaphragm and a pair of doors on said easing capable of being moved to their open position while within said casing, and mechanismto move said doors to theirleiosed position during the movement of said casing in unison with said carriage and also during the time said casing is outside of said bal- 15 In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses. Y

RALPH HAZLETT UPsoN.

Witnesses: 4

C. E. IJIUisrPHRm,l A. L. MCCLINTOCK. 

